Motivated. Educated. Graduated.

It’s the season of pomp and circumstance. Congratulations to the Class of 2023 for reaching this important milestone as the first graduates to be affected by COVID-19 for all four years of college. 

These students have shown adaptability, creativity and resilience–all important skills that will translate well in the workplace. However, this year’s grads are now faced with more uncertainty as some organizations plan to hire fewer employees than in 2022.

While the job market may be challenging right now, employers have not changed their hiring focus: find the best talent. So while the newly-earned degree and solid GPA are accolades that should be celebrated, it’s important to stand out among the competition. 

Here are my tips for how to land your first job:

Avoid Limiting Beliefs. Identify industries and jobs that can benefit from your skillset and experiences. Don’t be intimidated by job requirements or insecure if your area of study doesn’t line up.

“I don’t meet all the job specs.”
“This position has nothing to do with my degree.”

Highlight Your Skills. Align your messaging on your resume, LinkedIn profile and cover letter to put a spotlight on your individual skills and experiences.

Network Every Day. Look at every introduction and connection as an opportunity to network. Create a list of people in your everyday (and not-so-everyday) life–parents’ friends, friends’ parents, friends of friends, former managers, even your favorite hair stylist. You never know who might know someone. 

Rehearse Your Story. Develop detailed examples that illustrate your ability to be successful. Reflect on your experiences with previous jobs, extracurricular activities and class projects. The more you practice selling yourself, the more confident and articulate you will be. 

Be Bold. Be Courageous. Be Your Best. It’s a tough job market but you can make it happen with the right mindset and effort.  

As referenced in this CNBC Your Money article, Frank Sinatra could sing the theme song for today’s employment atmosphere…If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!  

The world awaits, Class of 2023, and I’m here to help.

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